ORIGINAL FINE- ORIGINAL PRINTS & ANTIQUES

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The day in the life of a Art and Antique Broker “No I am not dressed like this every day “

As any one in the Fine Arts and Antiques Business , I think we all agree , no two days are ever the same . Operating a On Line Retail Business and selling on a International Scale . Unlike a ” Brick and Mortal Gallery” , we reach out and sell via Cyber Space unlike a physical gallery where you never know who may walked in , if you are fortunate to be in New York City London , Paris or other better known Galleries Districts . Over the Years we have sold to private collectors , dealers that are ” Major Players ” in their chosen areas of expertise and leading Museums globally and many notable public collections . The joy of sharing that appreciation of beautiful created by artisans Fine Art , Porcelains d’ Art and other fine hand crafted items with others are indeed among the many joys of this profession . Is this a Profession or Obsession , which ever you wish to call it !I think every one from one time to another often wondered , if such loved items surviving for hundreds of years and have been collected , cherish , love and passed through time , ” What tales they could share with us as collectors and hopeless romantics perhaps” ! All through history ,the Upper classes followed the collecting- appreciation trends of the Royal families and the Nobility . So Many of the Early Masters were in fact patronized by them . The list included Rembrandt , Durer, Goya, among many artists The decorative arts included Meissen , Nymphemberg . Later in the British Isles Porcelains were patronized by the Royal family , where Derby became ” Royal Crown Derby ” Worcester become “Royal Crown Worcester ” . Even with the ” Royal Patronization ” from many others did not capitalized on the ” Royal added to the Name of the Manufacture ” but were supplying ware to the Rich and the Royal Family and the Titled Crowd . Some included Wedgwood , Minton , Herend .(Herend was used-collected by both Queen Victoria and the Later Princess Diana . Crystal were supplied to the Royals and Nobility were Baccarat perhaps the oldest , In the UK and the British Isles and North America Waterford Graced the private homes , The White House first with John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan “Biscuit Jar ” were the container for the Jelly Beans , Light Fixtures in Lincoln Center and so many more .For many of us ofThe Middle Class we have ” Champagne Taste and a Beer Budget “ We have been asked to share a couple of our most unusual days in the life of a Art and Antique Broker with our readers . We recently were fortunate to work with a leading Museum in the North East on brokerage of a lovely Reginald Marsh etched work “Shave and A Hair Cut ” which was a great pleasure . One Loving son ( of a Wedgwood Collector ) Purchased a Wedgwood Campaign Urn for the ashes of his late Mother and we shipped this over night to the mortuary … I will admit i will never look at these Urns the same ever again . Yes we have sold these and others for the Final resting place for the Family’s Most Loved Pet . Perhaps one of our best surprises most recently is , the sale of a Sterling Silver Card Case , Purchased by a Footman for the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace . Lets admit it is NOT Every day , you sell and ship a parcel to Buckingham Palace . If the Card Case could talk . It was circa 1940′s in the Art Deco Style found it way into a Miami Flee Market in the 1980′s and sold by the owner and now a part of the life of a ” Royal Footman ” at Buckingham Palace .In life if you are fortunate , No two days are ever the same Only If these items could talk , have tales they could tell…. Please do take a tour of the wide area of Fine art and antiques for a feast of both your eyes and spirit.http://stores.ebay.com/Candlewood-Yankee-Fine-Arts/_i.html?rt=nc&_dmd=2&_sid=645563163&_sticky=1&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14&_sop=3&_sc=1

Collecting “Old Masters Original Prints ” For the Beginner and Veteran Collectors

Yes there is still great opportunity of Collecting “Old Masters Original Prints ” for the Beginner and Veteran Collectors. As a veteran Collector-dealer there are some very good values in this field of collecting . I have seen great opportunity in this area of collecting for the past 45 years .

First lets briefly explain what Old Masters Original prints are ….is a term for a European artist – print maker , etcher- engraver of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such an artist.

In theory an Old Master Artist who was fully trained, was a Master of his local Artist Guild , and worked independently, but in practice paintings considered to be produced by pupils or workshops will be included in the scope of the term. Therefore, beyond a certain level of competence, date rather than quality is the criterion for using the term. Many artist employed students in there studio , were trained , mixing paints , preparing Canvas, and every development of the art side by side with the Old Master Painter . This practice of the artist as a apprentice dates back for centuries .

Durer , Rembrandt , Callot , Raphael and and Others were responsible for out standing artists like Van Ostade , Bega ,Zeeman , Goltious and others . Fortunately for the average collector there are some great values of the “Second Level of Old Masters Prints ” . Many are very fine works and well respected by the Museums and Historians BUT undervalued by most of the Art Market today .

Despite the supply is becoming more rare to find …they are on the market , often described “artist unknown ” Unsigned and other reasons and often stated ” School Of ” or “manner of “Today , you can still obtain quality later impressions of Rembrandt , Durer , Callots , and others along with fine early impressions of the later 18 Century members of others of the Old Masters . many were reprinted from the Original Copper Plates by very accomplished Publishers Watelet , The Bason’s Editions and others.

Hammerton and others , In the 19 Century several were republished in editions of fine Portfolios of Original prints including Etching and Etchers ( included rembrandt Three Oriental Figures , Callot ” Vue de Paris ” and Waterloo’s ” Traveler by a stream” to mention a few .

The expression ” OLD MASTERS COLLECTORS ” still instill the image of a Wealthy older collector ” No Longer , many Collectors are finding these works of everlasting value , appreciation and a great investment , in uncertain times as we are living in .

Do you Remember a time before” E Bay” ,” Live Auctions ” and all the others Inter Net Auctions ? Yes there was a time when The traditional Auction houses were the only place to find Art and Antiques ( in most case the legitimate ART and ANTIQUES ” , Not what we see now selling every thing from Pet Rocks , Bennie Babies , Match Box Cars , to mention a few and occasionally LEGITIMATE work of Art or Antiques !

First as a Collector and later a Private Art & Antique Dealer , I still find real treasures in the less fancy spots ( ” O yes ” , Thrift Shops , Inter net auctions like the E Bay Sites ) there are still the best places to find treasures at a reasonable price ..if you do your own research and than decide if the item is what it is presented as …. On such sites many sellers are cleaning out grand ma’s house , down sizing a home of 40 years plus , selling off the finds from yard sales or so many others reasons.

Now with Shows like BRITISH ROAD SHOW , ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW , THE FIND and many others …The average seller ( armature most often ) Thinks he or she is selling the ” Brooklyn Bridge “and asking far more than the real value is ! These fools are often kidding them selves and a few Fools willing to fall for the scam .

However you will find treasures there as well in the Thrift Shops , Flee Markets , Yard Sales and other secondary markets …You need to arm your self with knowledge , a cool head and patience .

I call this “DUMPSTER DIVING ” , YES I think of this as a sport … The men in my family hunted in the fields of the North East and Mid west hunting poor defenseless animals and I hunt for treasures .

My Profile and treasures and what We sell can be seen at my professional link at ;

I have even found these “Sleepers ” in Antique Malls ” , My own collection is full of stories of where these were found . Unless you have more money than Cents , many collectors stay away from THE large Traditional Auction Houses … Where it takes months to prepare for a sale. Everything has to be cataloged, tagged, have a condition report written, and estimates made up. The provenance has to be checked and the items have to be researched. All of this has to be done by experts. And the best people cost money. The items also have to photographed, then the photographs have to be downloaded and edited. And god forbid you’re working with big items like furniture. Getting big items into a place you can photograph them with a white background is a pain in rear let me tell you! I’m sure with expensive furniture they pay people just to move the furniture around. After all that someone has to make the catalogs which in my experience can take about a week (though I wasn’t at one of the big auction houses so maybe they’re more efficient– or they could take longer since they have prettier catalogs). Then you have to pay the auctioneer who makes a boatload because good auctioneers cost money , Then you have to pay the people on the sales floor, pay for advertising, pay the accountants, and the lawyers in case anything goes wrong. And then you also have to pay rent for the shop, Gallery and Business .

The many Established Sellers are working on a smaller scale and often as Home Base Business . Often the Gallery ids the house walls and cabinets are full , The PC is the office where the Living room , extra bedroom or family room used to be . The PACK and SHIP is some times the Counter in the Kitchen or garage . Yes with less overhead and often you meet and build a lasting more personal relationship with the buyer and seller … Forget the “Brook Brothers Look Suits and Ties ” YES , My Profile is such BUT I do not dress like that every day !

Today and more than ever , collecting Fine art and Antiques opportunities are still about , using the ” Old tried and True ” approach of Education , Experience by visiting Public Collections , talking to dealers and finally following your passion for this .

This is my passion for the past 40 years and My passion has been with me through “Thick and Thin ” , “Good times and Bad ” and YES manage to give me a good return on my money when I decided to sell ….

All I must admit was a Fluke , a Out standing Print-Painting Collector , Collector Richard A. Fluke , I had the privilege of meeting at 15 , with the first purchase of Art , a Goya etching . His spirit is still watching over me as my Guardian Angle , mentor and best influence for a collector .